Port Metro Vancouver handled a record 135 million tonnes of cargo last year, a nine per cent increase over 2012, according to year-end results released Monday.

Port Metro Vancouver handled a record 135 million tonnes of cargo last year, a nine per cent increase over 2012, according to year-end results released Monday.

"If you look at the underlying number, (the growth) is 11 million tonnes, which is the size of a medium-size port," said PMV's president and CEO Robin Silvester. "So it really is pretty strong growth."

According to the year-end results, PMV's import and export tonnage maintained balanced growth, showing a nine per cent increase each.

Increased demand for Canadian products, a transition to a consumer-based economy in China and recovery in Asia are credited with fuelling the continued growth of Canadian trade through the port.

"It's the underlying opportunity of Canadian resources that are in demand in the fast-growing economies in Asia," said Silvester. "And it's the work we've been doing to invest in infrastructure to allow us to make that trade happen. It's a very good news story for the economy in the Lower Mainland, in B.C., and the rest of Canada."

Container traffic grew about four per cent for a record total of 2.83 million TEUs (20-foot equivalent containers), with a near equal number of import and export containers moving through the port. Meanwhile, cruise passenger numbers jumped 22 per cent with a 23 per cent increase in vessel calls. The port welcomed 29 vessels with 812,398 passengers on 235 calls.

"It's a good bounceback," said Silvester of the increased cruise traffic. "We saw quite a big drop-off in 2009 when Alaska introduced the $50 head tax. That was rolled back a bit in 2010 and we've seen the volumes grow back. We compete with Seattle for the Alaska cruise business and the cruise companies and passengers are recognizing that a cruise from Vancouver is a nicer place to start a cruise. Each cruise call here is worth $2 million to the local economy."

Increases in 2013 include: Breakbulk cargo of more than 17 million tonnes rose two per cent, with logs up 8.2 per cent to 9,063,492 tonnes; bulk volumes of 92.7 million tonnes increased by 10.7 per cent from 2012; coal volumes rose 16.6 per cent to 38.2 million tonnes, with substantial increases in grain and specialty crops, notably wheat (26.2 per cent), specialty crops (58 per cent), and barley (273 per cent), although animal feed and other series saw substantial drops (70 per cent and 29 per cent respectively).

Chemicals, basic metals and minerals saw a 15 per cent increase to 11.2 million tonnes, while fertilizers were up 11 per cent to 9.4 million tonnes.

Foreign vessel calls were up almost three per cent to 3,166.

However, auto volumes of 378,883 units ended the year with a one per cent decrease after a strong rebound in 2012.

Crude petroleum also declined by five per cent, although refined products such as gasoline rose 2.1 per cent.

Silvester said the drop in autos going through the port is in line with a trend of slightly reduced imports from Asia combined with a little more manufacturing of autos in North America. "We're expecting to see that trend to continue, with a gentle decline in auto volumes imported."

Silvester said there's also been an uptick in domestic and Washington refineries handling crude oil, "meaning a little less surplus volumes to go to the marine trade." Meanwhile, PMV noted that infrastructure projects moved forward in 2013, including an elevated road structure as part of the South Shore Corridor Project (Vancouver), construction on the Low Level Road Project (North Vancouver) and Deltaport Terminal Road and Rail Improvement Project (Delta), and the Roberts Bank Rail Corridor Projects continued.

As well, PMV staff in 2013 led, attended and participated in more than 500 community engagement events, and the port's EcoAction program promoted emission reduction measures that resulted in $1.158 million in discounts to vessels going beyond requirements to reduce emissions.

According to PMV, the port is Canada's largest gateway, handling 19 per cent of Canada's total trade.

As well, economic activity supported by the port generates more than 57,000 direct and indirect jobs in the Lower Mainland. Across Canada, the port generates an estimated 100,000 jobs, and provides $9.7 billion in direct GDP.

"Another year of growth at Port Metro Vancouver provides ongoing proof of the strength of the Canadian economy, and the success of our trade development focused policies and infrastructure investments," added federal Transport Minister Lisa Raitt in a statement.

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